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1. Biochar and zero-valent iron sand filtration simultaneously removes contaminants of emerging concern and Escherichia coli from wastewater effluent

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00240-y  

   Zhu, Linyan; Chattopadhyay, Suhana; Elijah Akanbi, Oluwasegun; Lobo, Steven; Panthi, Suraj; Malayil, Leena; Craddock, Hillary A.; Allard, Sarah M.; Sharma, Manan; Kniel, Kalmia E.; et al (December 2023, Biochar)

   Abstract Advanced treated municipal wastewater is an important alternative water source for agricultural irrigation. However, the possible persistence of chemical and microbiological contaminants in these waters raise potential safety concerns with regard to reusing treated wastewater for food crop irrigation. Two low-cost and environmentally-friendly filter media, biochar (BC) and zero-valent iron (ZVI), have attracted great interest in terms of treating reused water. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of BC-, nanosilver-amended biochar- (Ag-BC) and ZVI-sand filters, in reducing contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and total bacterial diversity from wastewater effluent. Six experiments were conducted with control quartz sand and sand columns containing BC, Ag-BC, ZVI, BC with ZVI, or Ag-BC with ZVI. After filtration, Ag-BC, ZVI, BC with ZVI and Ag-BC with ZVI demonstrated more than 90% (> 1 log) removal of E. coli from wastewater samples, while BC, Ag-BC, BC with ZVI and Ag-BC with ZVI also demonstrated efficient removal of tested CECs. Lower bacterial diversity was also observed after filtration; however, differences were marginally significant. In addition, significantly ( p  < 0.05) higher bacterial diversity was observed in wastewater samples collected during warmer versus colder months. Leaching of silver ions occurred from Ag-BC columns; however, this was prevented through the addition of ZVI. In conclusion, our data suggest that the BC with ZVI and Ag-BC with ZVI sand filters, which demonstrated more than 99% removal of both CECs and E. coli without silver ion release, may be effective, low-cost options for decentralized treatment of reused wastewater. Graphical Abstract 

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2. A Probabilistic Extension of Action Language

   https://doi.org/10.1017/S1471068418000303  

   LEE, JOOHYUNG; WANG, YI (July 2018, Theory and Practice of Logic Programming)

   Abstract We present a probabilistic extension of action language $${\cal BC}$$+$$ . Just like $${\cal BC}$$+$$ is defined as a high-level notation of answer set programs for describing transition systems, the proposed language, which we call p $${\cal BC}$$+$$ , is defined as a high-level notation of LP MLN programs—a probabilistic extension of answer set programs. We show how probabilistic reasoning about transition systems, such as prediction, postdiction, and planning problems, as well as probabilistic diagnosis for dynamic domains, can be modeled in p $${\cal BC}$$+$$ and computed using an implementation of LP MLN . 

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3. Thermal conductivity of hexagonal BC ₂ P – a first-principles study

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ra08444a  

   Muthaiah, Rajmohan; Tarannum, Fatema; Annam, Roshan Sameer; Nayal, Avinash Singh; Danayat, Swapneel; Garg, Jivtesh (November 2020, RSC Advances)

   null (Ed.)

   In this work, we report a high thermal conductivity ( k ) of 162 W m −1 K −1 and 52 W m −1 K −1 at room temperature, along the directions perpendicular and parallel to the c -axis, respectively, of bulk hexagonal BC 2 P (h-BC 2 P), using first-principles calculations. We systematically investigate elastic constants, phonon group velocities, phonon linewidths and mode thermal conductivity contributions of transverse acoustic (TA), longitudinal acoustic (LA) and optical phonons. Interestingly, optical phonons are found to make a large contribution of 30.1% to the overall k along a direction perpendicular to the c -axis at 300 K. BC 2 P is also found to exhibit high thermal conductivity at nanometer length scales. At 300 K, a high k value of ∼47 W m −1 K −1 is computed for h-BC 2 P at a nanometer length scale of 50 nm, providing avenues for achieving efficient nanoscale heat transfer. 

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4. Cellulose Derived from Banana Peels

   https://doi.org/10.4028/p-SgZ7eH  

   Scott, Erin Nicole; Calhoun, Maria; Rangari, Vijay (June 2025, Materials Science Forum)

   Cellulose is an important structural material found naturally within the cell walls of plants that has recently been researched as a biodegradable, renewable, and non-toxic reinforcing agent used to improve properties for a variety of composite systems. Cellulose is usually derived from wood sources via acid hydrolysis. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is produced by bacteria proliferation using nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen sources, and is similar chemically to plant extracted cellulose. Compared to commercially available cellulose, BC has higher purity and increased hydrophilicity. In this work, banana peels are used as a carbon source for bacterial cellulose growth. The peels were heat treated to maximize sugar and carbon contents. In addition, BC derived from the banana peels doesn’t require any bleaching or chemical post-processing. In this research, BC derived from banana peels is synthesized, characterized, and analyzed for its physical, mechanical, and thermomechanical properties, as compared to commercial nanocellulose. 

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5. Functionalization of Bacterial Cellulose with the Antimicrobial Peptide KR-12 via Chimerical Cellulose-Binding Peptides

   https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031462  

   van Zyl, Elizabeth M.; Coburn, Jeannine M. (January 2024, International Journal of Molecular Sciences)

   Bacterial-derived cellulose (BC) has been studied as a promising material for biomedical applications, including wound care, due to its biocompatibility, water-holding capacity, liquid/gas permeability, and handleability properties. Although BC has been studied as a dressing material for cutaneous wounds, to date, BC inherently lacks antibacterial properties. The current research utilizes bifunctional chimeric peptides containing carbohydrate binding peptides (CBP; either a short version or a long version) and an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), KR-12. The secondary structure of the chimeric peptides was evaluated and confirmed that the α-helix structure of KR-12 was retained for both chimeric peptides evaluated (Long-CBP-KR12 and Short-CBP-KR12). Chimeric peptides and their individual components were assessed for cytotoxicity, where only higher concentrations of Short-CBP and longer timepoints of Short-CBP-KR12 exposure exhibited negative effects on metabolic activity, which was attributed to solubility issues. All KR-12-containing peptides exhibited antibacterial activity in solution against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding capability of the peptides was evaluated and the Short-CBP-KR12 peptide exhibited enhanced LPS-binding capabilities compared to KR-12 alone. Both chimeric peptides were able to bind to BC and were observed to be retained on the surface over a 7-day period. All functionalized materials exhibited no adverse effects on the metabolic activity of both normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) epithelial cells. Additionally, the BC tethered chimeric peptides exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli. Overall, this research outlines the design and evaluation of chimeric CBP-KR12 peptides for developing antimicrobial BC membranes with potential applications in wound care. 

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